1  VALUABLE  INFORMATION 
V     FOR   THE  RESIDENTS 
OF   NEW  YORK  CITY 


PRESENTED  BY 

THE  CITY  IMPROVEMENT  SOCIETY 


lEx  Stbrtfi 


SEYMOUR  DURST 


When  you  leave,  please  leave  this  book 

Because  it  has  been  said 
"Sver'thing  comes  t'  him  who  waits 

Except  a  loaned  book." 


OV^  /  2  on      &°y  3f 


'AVERY 
U DURST . 


Incorporated  June  14th,  1892 


12  EAST  TWENTY-THIRD  STREET,  NEW  YORK 


Objects. 

To  Promote  the  Improvement  and  Beautifying 
of  the  City,  and  to  Assist  and  Stimulate  the 
Authorities  in  Enforcing  the  Laws  Relating 
Thereto. 


3 


The  City  Improvement  Society  is  under 
the  management  of  an  Executive  Com- 
mittee, and  is  supported  by  voluntary 
subscriptions  received  from  public- 
spirited  citizens  interested  in  promoting 
the  welfare  and  improvement  of  the  city. 

The  Society  furnishes  a  medium,  never 
before  existing,  whereby  residents  of 
New  York  having  any  complaints  to 
make,  within  the  scope  of  its  work,  can 
be  assured  that  the  same  will  be  pre- 
sented to  the  authorities  and  urged  until 
they  receive  proper  attention. 

The  Society  is  also  ready  at  all  times 
to  receive  any  suggestions  relating  to 
special  objects,  the  attainment  of  which 
will  tend  to  benefit  the  public  at  large. 

J.  C.  PUMPELLY, 

Secretary. 

No.  12  E.  23d  Street, 

New  York,  Nov.  16,  1894. 


3 


Complaints  for  the  following  violations 
of  the  Sanitary  Code  may  be  sent  to  this 
Society  if  signed  with  name  and  address 
of  complainant ;  said  name  and  address 
is  always  held  strictly  confidential : 

Sec.  87-89. — Whenever  ashes,  garbage, 
or  refuse  of  any  kind  are  allowed  to  remain, 
or  are  thrown  into  the  street  or  gutters. 

Sec.  95. — Whenever  receptacles  for  gar- 
bage, ashes,  refuse,  etc.,  are  placed  upon 
the  open  sidewalk  between  the  curb  and 
the  area  or  stoop-line,  or  in  any  other  pub- 
lic places. 

Such  receptacles  should  be  kept  within 
and  between  the  stoop  or  "  area  "  line  and 
the  house  line  of  the  premises  to  which 
they  belong  until  removed  therefrom  for 
emptying  by  the  authorized  employes  of 
the  Department  of  Street  Cleaning,  and  by 
them  must  be  returned  to  the  place  whence 
they  were  taken.' 

Sec.  99. — Whenever  builders  or  con- 
tractors do  not  clean  up  the  street  after 
completing  their  work,  removing  all  mate- 
rial and  refuse  so  as  to  put  the  street  and 
sidewalk  in  the  same  good  condition  as 
before. 

Sec.  196. — Whenever  vacant  lots  by 
reason  of  their  not  being  fenced  in  become 

4 


a  nuisance  or  detrimental  to  health  as  the 
result  of  dumping  or  throwing  thereon 
garbage,  refuse,  etc.,  or  are  resorted  to  by 
tramps  or  unruly  and  disorderly  persons 
who  disturb  the  peace  or  menace  the  wel- 
fare of  the  neighborhood  or  passers-by. 

Sec.  117  and  Il8. — Whenever  any 
thick  black  smoke,  foul  odors,  or  soot, 
ashes,  etc.,  are  allowed  to  escape  from  any 
factory,  gas-works,  shop,  or  other  building 
so  as  to  cloud  the  atmosphere  or  enter  into 
adjacent  premises  to  the  detriment  or  an- 
noyance of  any  person  therein  engaged. 

Sec.  98. — Whenever  carpets,  rugs, 
clothing,  or  material  of  any  description  are 
shaken  or  beaten  where  particles  there- 
from, or  set  in  motion  thereby,  may  pass 
into  any  occupied  premises. 

Sec.  172. — Whenever  the  barking  of 
dogs,  the  crowing  of  roosters,  or  noise 
made  by  other  animals  or  birds  kept  on  or 
within  any  premises  disturbs  the  sleep, 
health,  or  comfort  of  any  person  occupying 
the  same  or  adjacent  premises. — Provided, 
however,  that  the  person  making  complaint 
is  willing  to  sign  an  affidavit  in  each  case 
that  the  noise  complained  of  disturbs  his 
or  her  rest  to  the  detriment  of  his  or  her 
health. 


5 


Sec.  165  and  168. — Whenever  street- 
car companies  do  not  provide  clean, 
wholesome,  and  comfortable  cars,  or  do 
not  run  their  cars  at  regular  intervals  dur- 
ing the  night,  as  required  by  law. 

Sec.  79. — Whenever  any  business,  such 
as  the  slaughtering  of  animals,  fat  render- 
ing, soap  or  bone  boiling,  lime  burning, 
etc.,  the  operation  of  which  is  or  may  be 
detrimental  to  the  public  peace  or  health, 
is  conducted  without  a  special  permit  from 
the  Board  of  Health. 


6 


Complaints  for  violation  of  the  follow- 
ing1 City  Ordinances  and  the  Laws  of 
New  York  State  may  be  sent  to  the  City 
Improvement  Society,  if  signed  with 
name  and  address  of  complainant ;  said 
name  and  address  is  always  held  strictly 
confidential: 

SIDEWALKS. 

Whenever  snow  or  ice  remains  on  the 
sidewalk  or  in  the  gutter  for  more  than 
two  hours  after  a  storm. 

Whenever  sidewalks  are  obstructed  or 
encumbered  by  stands,  goods,  wares, 
merchandise,  building  material,  etc.,  placed 
at  a  greater  distance  than  three  feet  in 
front  of  houses  or  stores,  or  placed  at  or 
along  the  curb,  excepting  when  same  are 
in  process  of  actual  shipment  or  being 
received  from  shipment. 

Whenever  sidewalks  are  allowed  to  re- 
main in  an  unclean  or  dirty  condition. 

Whenever  water  or  other  liquids  are 
allowed  to  flow  on  or  over  the  sidewalks 
from  buildings,  or  from  the  gutter  pipes 
leading  down  from  same. 

Whenever  any  signs,  movable  or  other- 
wise, are  placed  at  the  curb. — Nor  can  any 
sign  be  more  than  5  feet  in  height  if  mov- 
able, nor  placed  more  than  3  feet  in  front 

7 


of  the  house  line. — Swinging  signs  when 
attached  to  buildings  cannot  project  more 
than  4  feet  from  the  house  line,  or  hang 
less  than  8  feet  in  the  clear  from  the  level 
of  the  sidewalk. 

Whenever  skids,  bars,  or  planks  are 
placed  on  or  over  the  sidewalk  for  the 
purpose  of  loading  or  unloading  goods, 
etc.,  without  allowing  a  clear  passageway 
of  at  least  3  feet. 

Whenever  horses  or  vehicles  are  driven 
on  or  over  sidewalks. 

Whenever  awnings  on  buildings  are 
placed  so  that  they  project  outwardly  be- 
yond the  stoop  or  area  line  said  awnings 
must  not  be  less  than  7  feet  in  the  clear 
in  every  part  above  the  sidewalk. 

Whenever  any  flagstones,  curbstones,  or 
other  stones  are  removed  from  any  side- 
walks for  the  purpose  of  repairs,  or  for  the 
purpose  of  paving,  flagging,  recurbing,  or 
reflagging,  without  causing  such  repairs  to 
be  completed  as  soon  as  same  can  reason- 
ably be  done,  or  a  proper  substitute  there- 
for provided  while  repairs  or  changes  are  in 
progress. 

Whenever  a  sidewalk  or  street  crossing 
is  in  a  broken,  sunken,  or  dangerous  con- 
dition, or  if  any  of  the  flagstones  are  miss- 

8 


ing  or  have  been  removed, — specifying  the 
exact  location  as  shown  by  the  number  of 
the  abutting  premises.  If  such  defective 
sidewalks  are  in  front  of  vacant  lots  such 
fact  should  be  stated,  giving  the  location 
as  near  as  possible  by  reference  to  the 
adjoining  premises. 


9 


STREETS. 


Whenever  streets  are  not  regularly  and 
properly  swept  or  cleaned. 

Whenever  ash-cart  drivers  allow  debris 
or  refuse  to  drop  or  spill  from  their  carts 
through  carelessness  or  overloading  when 
collecting  or  carting  same.  (Specify  the 
number  of  such  cart.) 

Whenever  gas,  electric  light,  or  other 
companies  or  contractors  do  not  properly 
replace  the  street  pavement  or  sidewalk 
after  same  has  been  torn  up  by  them. 

Whenever  street  pavements  are  in  a 
dangerous  condition  and  liable  to  cause 
accident  or  injury  to  horses  or  vehicles  by 
reason  of  loose,  sunken,  missing,  or  un- 
even stones,  or  if  same  have  bad  ruts  or 
depressions, — specify  full  particulars  in  re- 
gard to  the  location  of  such  defects. 

Whenever  unharnessed  carts,  trucks,  or 
vehicles  of  any  description  are  stored  or 
allowed  to  remain  in  the  public  street 
during  the  daytime,  except  on  Sundays  and 
holidays  ;  or  remain  in  front  of  or  on  your 
premises  or  on  premises  occupied  by  you 
at  any  time,  day  or  night,  without  your 
express  consent. 

Whenever  gas  lamps  are  not  lighted,  or 

TO 


if  same  have  broken  panes  or  globes  in 
them. 

Whenever  electric  lights  in  streets  do 
not  burn  properly,  or  if  same  go  out  at 
intervals  during  the  night. 

Whenever  horses  or  vehicles  are  in  the 
habit  of  standing  in  or  along  the  roadway 
so  as  to  obstruct  the  crosswalk  of  any 
street. 

Whenever  roadways  are  unduly  ob- 
structed by  building  material,  etc.,  except 
during  process  of  construction  or  repairs, 
and  then  only  within  the  limits  designated 
by  the  permit  issued  by  the  Department  of 
Public  Works,  which  in  no  case  allows  the 
use  of  more  than  one  third  of  the  roadway 
for  this  purpose. 

Whenever  ball  is  played,  or  sticks  or 
stones  are  thrown  in  the  public  streets. 

Whenever  street  pavements  or  any  por- 
tions thereof  are  torn  up  or  removed,  unless 
same  is  authorized  by  permit  granted  by 
the  Department  of  Public  Works  for  some 
specified  purpose,  which  also  provides  that 
such  pavement  shall  be  restored  to  the 
same  good  condition  as  before. 

Whenever  any  glass-lamp  hung  or  fixed 
in  any  street  is  wilfully  broken,  or  the 
lights  therein  are  wilfully  extinguished. 

ii 


Whenever  streets  are  used  for  storage 
purposes  of  any  description. 

Whenever  a  dead  animal  is  exposed  or 
allowed  to  remain  in  a  street  or  other 
public  place. 


12 


MISCELLANEOUS. 


Whenever  buildings  are  not  properly 
provided  with  fire-escapes,  or  if  such  fire- 
escapes  are  encumbered  by  any  articles. 

Whenever  street  numbers  are  not  placed 
on  buildings,  or  the  names  and  numbers  of 
streets  and  avenues  are  not  shown  on  street 
lamps  at  street  intersections. 

Whenever  any  glass,  window,  porch, 
knocker,  or  other  fixture  belonging  or  at- 
tached to  any  house  or  building  in  the 
city  of  New  York  is  wilfully  broken  or 
defaced. 

Whenever  wooden  sheds  are  erected 
over  15  feet  in  height  within  the  "fire 
limits,"  or  if  same  are  not  open  on  at  least 
one  side,  with  the  sides  and  roof  thereof 
covered  with  fireproof  material. 

Whenever  garbage  or  ashes  are  not  col- 
lected regularly  and  the  empty  receptacles 
are  not  placed  back  within  the  area  or 
stoop-line. 

Whenever  a  policeman  on  post  is  inso- 
lent when  civilly  addressed  in  the  line  of 
his  duty, — specifying  his  number  and  loca- 
tion (as  near  as  possible)  at  the  time. 

Whenever  a  policeman  on  post  wilfully 
neglects  or  refuses  to  make  an  arrest  if 


called  upon  to  do  so,  for  an  offense  against 
the  law  committed  in  his  presence  or  within 
his  immediate  neighborhood,  and  when 
the  person  so  demanding  the  arrest  is  will- 
ing to  testify  before  the  Captain  of  the 
Precinct  or  Magistrate  against  the  patrol- 
man in  question, — specifying  the  police- 
man's number  and  location  at  the  time. 

Whenever  work  under  construction  or 
repairs,  or  excavations  made  for  repairs  or 
construction,  are  not  properly  guarded 
against  accident  to  pedestrians,  or  horses, 
or  vehicles,  at  all  times,  and  if  same  are  not 
indicated  by  lanterns  or  lamps  at  night  to 
warn  against  danger. 

The  above  are  among  the  most  frequent  violations 
of  la 7o  in  t/iis  city.  TJie  City  Improvement  Society 
desires  however  to  inform  the  public  that  it  will  re- 
ceive complaints  f within  the  scope  of  its  work)  regard- 
ing the  non-enforcement  of  any  City  Ordinance  or 
Law  of  the  State  relating  to  this  city,  and  will  en- 
deavor to  procure  the  abatement  of  nuisances  where 
there  is  no  law  or  ordinance  directly  applying  to  the 
same. 


14 


CAB    RATES    AND  REGULA- 
TIONS. 

Each  licensed  vehicle  is  obliged  to  carry 
certain  numbers  corresponding  to  the  num- 
ber of  its  license,  on  each  outside  lamp. 

Also  to  carry  a  Card  of  Rates,  which 
must  be  hung  or  fastened  at  the  back  of 
the  cab  on  the  inside  above  the  seat,  so  as 
to  be  plainly  visible  from  either  side. 

Warning. — Do  not  under  any  cir- 
cumstances employ  a  cab  without  first 

observing  whether  such  rate  card  is  con- 
spicuously shown,  as  above  indicated. 

RATES  OF  FARE. 

One-horse  vehicles  carrying  one  or 
two  adult  persons  (children  under  eight 
years  not  counted),  also  one  piece  of  bag- 
gage not  exceeding  fifty  pounds  in  weight  : 

For  the  first  mile  or  part  thereof,  50  cents. 

For  each  additional  half  mile,  25  cents. 

For  stops  over  five  minutes  and  not  ex- 
ceeding fifteen  minutes,  25  cents. 

For  longer  stops,  each  additional  fifteen 
minutes,  25  cents. 

Or  such  vehicle  may  be  hired  by  the 
hour,  if  agreed  upon,  with  the  privilege  of 
stopping  as  long  or  as  often  as  may  be  de- 
sired, at  rates  not  exceeding  the  following  : 

For  the  first  hour  or  part  thereof,  $1. 


15 


For  each  additional  half  hour  or  part 
thereof,  50  cents. 

No  extra  charge  can  be  made  for  night 
service. 


Two-horse  vehicles  carrying  one  or 
four  adult  persons  (children  under  eight 
years  not  counted),  also  one  piece  of  bag- 
gage not  exceeding  fifty  pounds  in  weight  : 

For  the  first  mile  or  part  thereof,  $1. 

For  each  additional  half  mile,  40  cents. 

For  stops  over  five  minutes  and  not  ex- 
ceeding fifteen  minutes,  38  cents. 

For  longer  stops,  each  additional  fifteen 
minutes,  38  cents. 

Or  such  vehicle  may  be  hired  by  the 
hour,  if  agreed  upon,  with  the  privilege  of 
stopping  as  long  or  as  often  as  may  be  de- 
sired, at  rates  not  exceeding  the  following  : 

For  the  first  hour  or  part  thereof,  $1.50. 

For  each  additional  half  hour  or  part 
thereof,  75  cents. 

No  extra  charge  can  be  made  for  night 
service. 

If  more  than  one  piece  of  baggage  is 
carried  such  additional  baggage  is  charged 
for  at  the  rate  of  25  cents  per  piece. 

In  all  cases  where  the  hiring  of  a  vehicle 
is  not  at  the  time  thereof  specified  to  be  by 
the  hour,  it  shall  be  deemed  to  be  by  the 
mile,  and  the  driver  of  such  vehicle  shall 
have  the  right  to  refuse  to  make  any  such 
agreement  by  the  hour  and  to  charge  by 
the  mile. 

16 


Every  licensed  owner  or  driver  of  any 
hackney  coach  or  cab  shall  have  the  right 
to  demand  his  fare  of  the  person  or  per- 
sons employing  him  on  their  entering  his 
coach  or  cab,  and  may  refuse  conveying 
any  person  who  does  not  comply  with  such 
demand. 

When  taking  any  licensed  vehicle  by  the 
mile  do  not  make  any  bargain  beforehand^  as 
the  above  are  the  only  legal  rates.  It 
makes  no  difference  whether  one  or  more 
passengers  as  above  are  carried,  no  addi- 
tional charge  other  than  as  specified  can  be 
made  in  any  case. 

In  case  any  dispute  should  arise  as  to  the 
rate  of  fare  or  distance  travelled,  the  mat- 
ter can  be  settled  at  once  by  driving  to  the 
nearest  Police  Station.  (See  location  of 
Police  Stations.) 

If  for  any  reason  the  passenger  has  paid 
more  than  the  legal  rate  of  fare  and  after- 
wards wishes  to  make  a  complaint  against 
the  hackman  for  the  overcharge,  a  brief 
statement  of  the  facts,  together  with  the 
license  number  of  the  vehicle,  should  be 
sent  to  this  Society,  provided  the  person  so 
doing  will  agree  over  his  or  her  signature 
to  appear  before  the  Mayor's  Marshal  when 
notified  so  to  do,  in  order  to  testify  against 
the  driver  ;  otherwise  the  Society  is  power- 
less to  adjust  the  overcharge  or  have  the 
driver  punished. 

When  engaged  by  the  hourly  rate,  no 
cab  or  coach  shall  be  driven  at  a  pace  less 
than  five  miles  an  hour. 


17 


Caution. — Do  not  employ  any  licensed 
coach  or  cab  at  night  unless  the  outside 
lamps  are  lighted  so  as  to  distinctly  show 
the  number  of  the  vehicle.  The  Rate  Card 
should  also  be  distinctly  visible  at  the  back 
on  the  inside  above  the  seat,  and  in  no 
other  position 

TABLE  OF  DISTANCES  REGU- 
LATING HACK  CHARGES. 

One-half  mile  from  the  Battery  includes 
any  portion  of  New  York  in  a  direct  street 
line 

South  of  Wall  Street  on  Broadway. 
South  of  Wall  Street  on  East  River. 
South  of  Carlisle  Street  on  North  River. 

One  mile  from  the  Battery  includes  any 
portion  of  New  York  in  a  direct  street  line 
South  of  City  Hall  on  Broadway. 
South  of  Park  Place  on  North  River. 
South  of  Peck  Slip  on  East  River. 

One  and  one-half  miles  from  the  Battery 
includes  any  portion  of  New  York  in  a  di- 
rect street  line 

South  of  Canal  Street  at  Broadway. 

South  of  Franklin  Street  at  North  River. 

South  of  Market  Street  at  East  River. 

Two  miles  from  the  Battery  includes  any 
portion  of  New  York  in  a  direct  street  line 
South  of  Houston  Street  at  Broadway. 
South  of  Canal  Street  at  North  River. 
South  and  west  of  Jefferson  Street  at 
East  River. 

18 


Three  miles  from  the  Battery  includes 
any  portion  of  New  York  in  a  direct  street 
line 

South  of  1 8th  Street  at  Broadway. 
South  of  14th  Street  at  Ninth  avenue. 
South  of  Bloom  field  Street  at  North 
River. 

South  of  1 2th  Street  at  East  River. 

For  greater  distances,  or  starting  from  or 
above  14th  Street,  the  distance  travelled  is 
best  computed  by  blocks,  viz.  : 

Twenty  street  blocks  running  north  or 
south  constitute  one  mile. 

Seven  avenue  blocks  running  east  or  west 
constitute  one  mile. 


19 


LOCATION  OF  POLICE  PRECINCT 
STATIONS. 


PRKCINCT 
ISt 

WARD 

1st 

Old  blip,  cor.  .bront  St. 

2d 

3d 

Lor.  Liberty  and  Church  Sts. 

3rt 

otn 

City  Hall 

4th 

4th 

Oak  St. 

rfV. 

5th 

otn 

19  Leonard  St. 

otn 

otn 

19  rLiizaoetn  01. 

7tQ 

7th 

240  Madison  St. 

otn 

otn 

Cor.  Prince  and  Wooster  Sts. 

9th 

qth 

94  Charles  St. 

10th 

i4tn 

205  Mulberry  St. 

I  Ith 

•w- 

10th 

105  Eldridge  St 

I2th 

13th 

Cor.  Attorney  and  Delancy  Sts. 

1 3tn 

t  1  tn 

Union  Market,  n..  Houston  ot. 

14th 

17th 

Cor.  1st  Ave.  and  5th  St. 

1 5111 

i5tn 

231  M  ercer  ot. 

iotn 

iotn 

230  \v  .  20tn  ot. 

17th 

21st 

34  E  29th  St.  (Broadway  Squad) 

1  otn 

iotn 

327        22d  ot. 

1  gtn 

join 

x37  **  •  3°tn  r>t. 

20th 

20th 

434  W.  37th  St. 

2ISt 

2lSt 

[20  E.  35th  St. 

22d 

22d 

345  W.  47th  St. 

23d 

19th 

T63  E.  51st  St. 

SO  B-PREC1NCT 

23d 

19th 

Grand  Central  Depot,  42d  St. 

PRECINCT 

24ttl 

220. 

cor.  ootn  ot.  ana  9tn  /\ve. 

25th 

19th 

67th  St.,  bet  3d  and  Lex.  Aves. 

26th 

1 2th 

134  W.  100th  St. 

27th 

»  I 

432  E.  88th  St. 

28th 

t  ( 

104th  St.,  bet.  3d  and  Lex.  Aves. 

SUB-PRECINCT 

28tll 

9th 

Pier  41,  N.  River 

PRECINCT 

29th 

12th 

140  rL,.  I20tn  ot. 

30th 

( I 

i20tn  ot.  ana  otn  Ave. 

3ISt 

« i 

H  ighbridge 

32d 

( I 

15^^  »3t'  ailQ  lUlII  rVVC. 

33d 

23d 

Town  Hall,  Morrisania 

34th 

( I 

Tremont 

35th 

4  I 

King's  Bridge 

Central  Office 

300  Mulberry  St. 

20 


aw 


